These cubs were delightful little fellows, but photographing them called for a telephoto lens. I didn’t want to irritate their several hundred pound mom. Sow bears are very protective of their kids. One of the rules I always emphasize when hiking people through bear country is never get between a mama bear and her babies.
I visited Kodiak a couple of times when I lived in Alaska. Both times I was on my way to Katmai National Park to go backpacking. So, I missed seeing the Kodiak bears. It wasn’t a problem. The National Park has its own population of large brown bears. When the floatplane landed at Katmai, a ranger was there to greet us. The area is a renowned fishing area for both people and bears. Fishermen come from all over the world to try their luck.”If you catch a fish and a brown bear comes along, cut your line. Don’t try to land the fish,” he instructed. It seemed like good advice. He went on to say, “If you meet a brown bear when you are out hiking, talk to the bear and slowly back away.” I wasn’t fishing so I wouldn’t need the first bit of advice, but possibly the second suggestion would come in handy.
The opportunity arrived that very evening. I had gone out for a stroll following a trail down to the beach when a thousand pounds of big claws and sharp teeth came strolling along in the opposite direction. Just what the heck was I supposed to say? I improvised. “Uh, Mr. Bear,” I started out tentatively, “You don’t want to eat me. I am an Alaskan just like you.” He stared at me with his small beady eyes and coughed. I wasn’t sure whether the cough meant I was full of BS or that I should go on. I assumed the latter. “There’s some great German food and Japanese food in camp,” I added as I slowly backed away. It wasn’t that I actually wanted the bear to eat any German or Japanese fisherman. But, as I noted, I was improvising. He growled and left the trail. Maybe he was heading off to sample some ethnic dishes. I let out a huge sigh of relief and continued down to the beach.
The next day I watched an even larger bear fishing in a deep hole along the river. It was obviously a prime location. The bear wasn’t fishing the way you see them in the documentaries where the bears hang out at waterfalls with their mouths open. He was playing submarine where he would disappear under the water until he caught a fish and then stand up on his hind legs while he consumed it. It was like he was eating corn on the cob except he was consuming the cob as well. I could here him crunching away. Twenty inches of trout disappeared in a couple of minutes. As I watched, a smaller grizzly sized bear came along to share in the catch. Bad decision. The large bear let out a roar and charged while the little guy leapt out of the hole and hightailed it though camp with the big guy hot on his tail. And, I can assure you, every thing they say about the speed of bears is absolutely true. I was ever so glad that I wasn’t on the trail.
The action on Kodiak wasn’t quite as dramatic, but it was equally interesting as the following photos will show.
Mama suggests to a large male that he go elsewhere. He did. You don’t mess with the mama!
Crisis solved, Mom leads her kids in the opposite direction along the fish pass,
And decides to go fishing.
Where she demonstrated her technique. (The salmon got away.)
“Come on in,” she urged the kids. “The waters fine.” But the cubs passed on the opportunity.
So she rejoined them— and provided a tongue bath.
Meanwhile, other bears were fishing the broader Dog Salmon River beneath the weir.
Including another mom with an older cub. The cub watched as mom searched for salmon under the water.
Successfully.
“Come on Mom, share!” the cub urged.
A seagull hovered above the cub, hoping for some table crumbs.
A bit later, a pair Kodiak bears had a standoff in the middle of the river! It seemed they were trying very hard to ignore each other.
Until the bear on the right decided to suggest that the other bear go elsewhere!
Which it did…
Junior stood up so he can see the action…
While Mom took a front row seat…
And then stood up to salute the victor. “I pledge allegiance…”
With the salmon caught and cubs fed, it was time to take a break.
The cool water provided an escape from the bugs…
While the fish pass provided some warm sun for an afternoon nap. Anyone one up for telling the bear that it isn’t supposed to be on the fish pass? (grin) Next Wednesday I’ll take you along on trips to catch salmon, troll for halibut, and search for sea glass.
FRIDAY’S POST: A wrap up on the Mekemson Kids Did It.
MONDAY’S POST: The next to the last post on the 18-day journey down the Colorado River.
Wandering through Time and Place 